Microphone Array Failure Detection via Power Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
In adaptive microphone array devices using the delay difference method, failures in microphone elements can lead to deteriorated directivity accuracy due to non-uniform characteristics, which are not easily detected during actual use, affecting noise suppression and directivity formation.
Innovation Solution
A failure detection system that monitors the average power of sound propagated to each microphone element and compares it to a total average power, determining if a microphone element is unusable based on a predetermined range, thereby identifying and isolating failed elements to maintain directivity accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the delay difference method is used in adaptive microphone array devices, then the directivity can be automatically adjusted according to the surrounding noise environment, but the accuracy of directivity formation deteriorates when microphone element characteristics deteriorate or failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the characteristics of each microphone element before failures significantly impact performance. The monitoring unit detects changes in microphone element characteristics in advance, allowing the system to identify and isolate failed elements before they degrade directivity formation accuracy, thus maintaining reliable adaptive noise suppression.
2Reliability
If monitoring of microphone element characteristics is implemented during actual use, then failures can be detected, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring unit leverages the existing audio signals already present in the environment to self-diagnose microphone element characteristics. By analyzing the responses of microphone elements to ambient sounds or test signals without requiring external specialized equipment, the system achieves reliable failure detection while minimizing additional system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If all microphone elements are assumed to have uniform characteristics before use, then the system is simpler to operate, but failures are not detected and directivity accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual characteristics of each microphone element and comparing them against expected uniform values. The monitoring unit provides real-time feedback on characteristic deviations, enabling the system to automatically identify and exclude non-uniform or failed elements, thus maintaining both operational simplicity and measurement precision through automated characteristic verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A failure detection system includes an omnidirectional microphone array device having a plurality of microphone elements and a directivity control device that calculates a delay time of a voice propagated from a sound source to each microphone element and forms a directivity of the voice using the delay time and the voice collected by the omnidirectional microphone array device, and detects a failure of the microphone element. A smoothing unit calculates an average power of one microphone element. An average calculator calculates a total average power of a plurality of usable microphone elements included in the omnidirectional microphone array device. A comparison unit compares whether or not a difference between the average power and the total average power exceeds a range of ±6 dB, and determines whether the microphone element is in failure based on the comparison result.